Fight-marred match a no-contest?

MANILA, Philippines - The NCAA may have erred in its decision to award Emilio Aguinaldo College the victory over Mapua in their fight-marred contest last Monday at The Arena in San Juan.

The EAC Generals were ahead, 86-77, with only 28.5 seconds remaining when a fight broke out. It was a wild and ugly bench-clearing incident that was shown live on national TV.

Videos of the fight have gone viral and became an instant hit at YouTube with nearly half-a-million views.

Only one player each from EAC and Mapua stayed on the bench during the open brawl. In the end, they were the only ones who were not ejected from the playing court.

Bai Cristobal, this year’s NCAA commissioner, conferred with the Mancom officials after the melee and decided to award the victory in the non-bearing contest to EAC.

Former Mancom chairman Bernie Atienza yesterday said despite the big margin and the very short time left in the game, the victory wasn’t for EAC to claim.

“An unfinished game is a no-contest. There’s a technicality here,” said Atienza, now deputy executive director at the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

Atienza has been involved with amateur basketball over the last four decades.

“In boxing, if there’s any headbutt or injury, you revert to the scorecards to determine the winner. In basketball, the rule is you must finish the four periods as required by FIBA rules.

“If the game is tied, you go into overtime,” Atienza said.

The long-time basketball official said since there were only two players that were not ejected, the game cannot resume.

“But there was time left in the game clock. Therefore, it should have been declared a no-contest. The referees had a bad time controlling the game,” he added.

Meanwhile, San Beda yesterday made official its protest to its 75-76 loss to Perpetual Help last Monday, submitting a letter questioning the non-call of a 24-second violation that led to a Joel Jolangcob triple late in the third quarter.

“We just want answers,” said Jose Mari Lacson, San Beda’s representative to the Management Committee yesterday.

Harold Arboleda, fouled by Arthur dela Cruz from behind the arc in the dying seconds, missed his first free throw but made the next two to lift the Altas to victory.

The Lions also thought the foul called on Dela Cruz was questionable, but said they didn’t include it in their protest because it was a judgment call.

As for seeking for the reversal of the outcome, Lacson said it “would be up for the NCAA to decide.”

Despite the loss, the Lions stayed on top with an 11-3 slate while Altas improved to 9-6 to stay in the semis hunt.

Meanwhile, the 90th NCAA men’s basketball tournament resumes today with Arellano U battling Letran at 2 p.m. and St. Benilde taking on Jose Rizal at 4 p.m.

The Chiefs are currently at No. 2 with an 11-4 mark, the Blazers and the Bombers are at joint No. 3 with 9-5 cards while the Knights (6-8) hope to keep its slim semis hopes alive.